Politics runs deep in these families

Jennifer L. Rodgers

If the unwritten rule of social gatherings is to avoid discussing religion and politics then you may want to think twice before sitting down with the Vulcano and Stofko families. Both clans have made politics their family business and while religion might not come up right away politics definitely will.

The Stofko family of Bethlehem has been involved with Bethlehem's government for generations. Richard Stofko's uncle, Paul Ruyak, was a Bethlehem City Councilman and the family was always there to lend a hand during campaign time. When Anna A. married Richard in 1959 she learned just how involved the Stofkos were. State Senator Lisa Boscola, above, has governing in her blood: Dad Richard Stofko is a Bethlehem City Committee person and her brother Will Power is also involved in politics. "I was drafted really after I got married," says Anna. "Once you were part of the family you worked the polls, stuffed envelopes and did whatever you had to." For Anna it was a new world that was "terribly exciting."

She joined the Edgeboro-Pembroke Democratic League, which is now defunct, and became one of about 100 women who worked to get other women elected. She went on to be Democratic State Committee person and a member of the League of Women Voters.

During this time her children went almost everywhere with her and followed the news earnestly. They talked about politics and had committee meetings at home, all of which probably led to her daughter Lisa's career choice.

Lisa (Stofko) Boscola, a Democrat, ran for Pennsylvania's House of Representatives in 1994 and won. She is now a state senator in the 18th district and remains highly dedicated.

"My parents were grass roots politics and they would take me to the polls and I would pull the levers," says Boscola. "I would help stuff envelopes and ride on fire engines  we didn't rely as heavily on television back then and there was a lot more voter contact."

As a result Boscola became very interested in politics and helping people and made a leap of faith to run for her first office. As an employee for the court administrator she had to resign before running for the state house of representatives.

"I wrote the resignation letter without even telling my husband," says Boscola. "As I was typing, tears were rolling down my face. Everyone said I was crazy (to run) because nobody knew my married name."

The Vulcano family of Easton has managed to make their mark as a couple.

"We are the only husband-and-wife team to be both vice president and president of city council in the history of Easton," says Pat Vulcano, Jr. Although Pat and his wife Sandra Alercia Vulcano were never on council at the same time their support for each other had no term limit.

Pat, a retired business marketing and entrepreneurship teacher at Northampton High School for 26 years, was elected in 1979 to city council and served two terms before he was appointed as city treasurer. He stayed until 1992 and was then elected as city controller, an office he kept until 2000. He was elected as a delegate for the 2000 Democratic National Convention not long after a close but unsuccessful bid for mayor.

"When I ran for mayor, Sandra was on the ticket for school board; she beat three men for one open seat, Region 2 of the Easton School District," says Pat. "We knew we would have at least one winner that election night."

In 2002, Sandra won her first bid for Easton's City Council and was immediately elected vice president. She is currently president of City Council.

"(Pat's and my) visions are not always the same," says Sandra. "I think we are much closer because we talk about issues and we cherish our time together when we are not in meetings and or attending banquets."